August Comment

Let me start by wishing a warm welcome to the many new subscribers who have joined us following the recent membership competition and Canberra Region Market Place.

At the start of each month we preview our upcoming program as well our member's activities and other news and opportunities.  In the following weeks you'll receive a shorter Express version to provide reminders of what's coming up each Monday afternoon.

As we resume 'normal transmission' after the excitement of last week (pictures of which you can see in this eNews and also on our facebook page) we're also planning an expansion of our program for tertiary students. 

Following lots of requests and market research conducted by our interns, we've decided to rollout Schmooze@Campus which will provide several seminars on a range of 'soft skills' delivered at ANU, University of Canberra and the CIT on topics requested by the students.  We'll have more info about that soon and ways our members can get involved.

Also, look out for an article about Schmooze this Tuesday in the Canberra Times Living in Canberra lift out!

In addition, our website is getting a facelift and some extra features this week as part of our twice a year refresh program thanks to our wonderful sponsors Link Digital, so look out for some new resources & features very soon.

Finally, I'd like to express my thanks to everyone who supported and attending our inaugural Canberra Region Market Place.  The generous comments we've received to date made my hard-working team very happy, and we hope you found the experience worthwhile and enjoyable. We're love to hear your feedback, so please take the short poll on our website.

Have a great August, and I hope to see you at one of our events soon.

Phillip Jones

Director & Founder Schmooze

Lucky Door Prize Winners

The Canberra Region Market Place was a unique event combing an expo-style format with great networking opportunities- all presented in fabulous Schmooze style!

Those who attended went into the draw for some great prizes.

You can see the list of the prizes and who one them on our News web page here

Did you Attend the Canberra Region Market Place?

We'd love to know what you thought, and whether you think we should run it again next year!

Please take the quick poll on our website and all votes are anonymous. Click here.

Featured Cause of the Month

OzHarvest Canberra, managed by Communities@Work, rescues excess food from a range of supermarkets, caterers and fresh food markets. It is delivered free of charge by refrigerated vans to over 60 refuges, homeless shelters and charities in Canberra and Queanbeyan. The service helps charities to provide food to vulnerable members of our community and, at the same time, reduces the environmental impact of food dumped as landfill.

OzHarvest has a simple message, “good food should not go to waste”. The service rescues around 500 kilograms of food a day and, since its inception in 2008, has rescued enough food to provide over 1 million meals to disadvantaged people in the Canberra region.

OzHarvest Canberra operates with the assistance of 31 committed volunteers and it costs less than $1 to deliver enough food for one meal. The service receives no government funding and relies entirely on community support and fundraising activities.

The success of OzHarvest Canberra has resulted in the urgent need of funds for the purchase of a third van. With each van costing around $40,000 with running costs of $140,000 annually, OzHarvest Canberra is seeking the support of the community to raise the necessary funds to put another van on the road.
 

Get Involved

To support this very worthwhile charity through donations, sponsorship or fundraising on its behalf, call Schmooze member, Judy Gleeson on 6293 6500 or email judy.gleeson@commsatwork.org

Judy is the Manager Fundraising and Partnerships at Communities@Work and welcomes enquiries about partnerships with business.

There are a range of opportunities for individuals and organisations to get involved and support their work.

Welcome to the Team

Introducing our new intern, Tabitha Wilson.

Tabitha  is a first year student studying a Bachelor of Tourism Management at the University of Canberra. She hopes to pursue a career in event management and undertake work abroad. Much of Tabitha’s current experience lies in the field of social work where she is an active advocate for carers.

Her experience involves a position on the NSW Ministerial Carers Advisory Council. In her spare time she likes reading books other than textbooks, baking and spending time at the beach.

She'll be working with us over the next several weeks developing a whole new program of events for tertiary students called Schmooze@Campus.  We'll be sharing more information about this exciting new initiative soon, and seeking interest and sponsorships from members to take part.

Member Notices

Members can access these resources and offers by logging into the Members Lounge and going to the Notices page, as well as add their own news, jobs, and other resources via a simple online form.

• Australian Computer Society: Links to ICT Industry sustainable policies, and carbon calculators
• Bell Shakespeare: Offer to members: get $10 off the ticket to Julius Caesar this week. Members need to quote the password to get the discount specified on the Notices page.
• Body Basics: get 10% off all of our 10 Personal Training session packages, for Schmooze members
• Schmooze: Download the Schmooze Guide for Effective Professional Relations for tips and strategies
• TEDx Canberra: Media Release just out on their event partners
• Viria Pty Ltd: Slide pack PDF from the Raising Capital Workshop in June
• Web123: Members code to quote so they can receive a $200 discount off a Web123 website or website packages.

Win Tickets to Julius Ceasar!

Bell Shakespeare's new season starts this week at the Canberra Theatre, and we've 10 double passes to give away to attend a preview performance at 7:30pm on Tuesday 2 August.

To win: you must email Schmooze TODAY with a name of one of the exhibitors who was at the Canberra Region Market Place last week.

First in best dressed!

Member Hosted Events

• Capital Region BEC: Networking Breakfast: Having the etiquette advantage in business’, 2 August more info on our website here
• Ginger Catering at Old Parliament House: several events coming up- details on their website here
• Lifeline Canberra: Willy Wonka Gala Ball, August 13, see our website for more information here
• National Press Club- Fabulous Fireside Fridays (including $5 tinitinis!) from 5.3pm. More info on their website here.
• Oasis Dental: Information Evening on Six Month Smiles, 4 August, more info here.
• The Street Theatre, until 7 August, the Capital Jazz Project. More details on their website here
• WISDOM Learning: Supervision Skills Workshop, September 16. More info on our website here
• A Special rate for Schmooze Members for this Australian Insitute of Management event- New Networking Skills Seminar, August 3, more details on our website here.

Professional Development Workshop: Schmooze School

Back by popular request, and this will be last time we run this workshop in Canberra this year. This month we cover everything you wanted to know about the art of Schmoozing and more.

Presented by Schmooze's founder, Phillip Jones and his team, this event will have three parts:

• Insights and practical strategies, tactics and tips on how to integrate networking into your business development, marketing and PR goals in a confident and cost effective manner
• How to leverage all the many opportunities Schmooze offers to promote your expertise, services and create business and professional opportunities
• How to  use social media to cultivate and maintain real world relationships.
• Plus some informal networking after the presentation.
• Where: National Press Club, Barton
• When: Tuesday August 9 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm
• Cost: Free for members, non-member guests $55 includes complimentary drink on arrival
• Reserve your place now:rsvp@schmooze.net.au

Young Professional Lifeskills Seminar: Opportunities in the Marketing PR and Commnuications sectors

This series of small seminars provide practical and expert insights on a range of essential career skills for under 30's.

This month, Jessica Meadley from HorizonOne Recruitment will share her knowledge on the job market for young professionals in the communications, marketing and PR sectors, including what employers are looking for, salary expectations and where the opportunities are.

Places are limited to 12 people to ensure a personalised experience.

• Where: Diamant Hotel, New Acton
• When: Monday 15 August, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm
• Cost: Free for members, $35 for social members, $55 for non-member guests
• Reserve your place: rsvp@schmooze.net.au

Schmooze Business Lunch Club

Held on the last Friday of the month, these events feature guest speakers who will explore a particular topical issue or theme.

They'll share their expert insights in a short talk (no powerpoint we promise!) and then we'll open up the discussion for a robust exchange of ideas, comments and debate over a great lunch in our private room.

The Business Lunch Club is be limited to 21 people to keep the vibe intimate and personalised and is perfect for business owners and senior managers to meet their peers in a relaxed setting.

• Where: La Scala Restaurant, Civic
• When: Friday 26 August from midday
• Cost: Members free, Guests $55incl GST- includes lunch and wine.
• Reserve your place now: rsvp@schmooze.net.au

The August Schmooze

This event finishes what we we had planned to do in June prior to the infamous fire at New Acton.

Happily the Diamant hotel and Bicicletta cafe were undamaged and we're delighted to present the August Schmooze there.

The atmosphere is light and welcoming perfect for cultivating new professional relationships.

As always, our staff are on hand to introduce you about to ensure you feel welcomeand in short, they don't feel like your typical business function!

Note, there will be a limit of 70 people for this event.

• Where: Diamant Hotel, New Acton
• When: Wednesday, August 31, from 5.30pm
• Cost: Free for members, $55 for non-member guests, includes two drinks and canapes
• Reserve your place now:  rsvp@schmooze.net.au